STAIl-IISIIKS. 



47 



Comatula; nor couUl wc find any ditTorence between it and 

 the perfect animal wlieu examining it under the microscope.* 



The species which formed the subject of these interesting 

 observations has five pair of beantilully ])innated arms, and 

 is of a deep rose colour, dotted over witli minute brown spots, 

 which are regarded as the ovaries. It is ch'cdgcd up on many 

 parts of the Irish coast, and is occasionally found upon the 

 strand. The first specimen we ever possessed was taken on 

 the beach about six miles from Belfast, and was brought to 

 that town alive. Anxious to secure so attractive a specimen 

 tor the cabinet, we placed it in a shallow vessel of fresh water, 

 and found, to onr surprise, that it emittpd a fluid, wliich 

 ini])arted to the water a roseate tinge. 



The second family 



consists of tlioso Star- 

 fishes which have 

 a voundisli central 

 body, fui'nished witii 

 five long arms, not 

 unlike the tails of 

 Serpents {Fig. ;^2) ; 

 and as the word 

 ophiura means a Ser- 

 jjent's tail, the term 

 Ophiuridoe has boon 

 adopted as the family 

 apellation. These 

 arms are not furnish- 

 ed with suckers, like 

 tliose of the next division, nor do tliey contain any prolonga- 

 tion of the digestive organs. They are merely arms externa! 

 to the body, and easily separated from it at the plea^^ure of 

 the animal; from which circnmstanre the English name of 

 "Brittle-stars" has been bestowed upon the tribe. Its 

 members differ very much in si/.e and appearance. Some of 

 thera measure as much as sixteen inches in diameter; others 

 are so small, that a score or two of them might be displaywl 

 on an ordinary visiting-card. Those who have looked upon 

 such objects only in the dried and rigid aspect they present in 

 our museums, can form no idea of the flexil)ility, variety, and 

 l)eauty which they present in the living .state. We have, on 



* (Ifihiiirn lexliirnln. Korlios. ••■ '--• 



Fig.^SJ.— COMMOS S»SU-(.TAU. ' 



